Best Mystery Series PBS (2026): 4 Picks Compared

The best mystery series pbs viewers love share a formula: a sharp detective, a strong sense of place, and a case that pulls you in from the first chapter. This list is for mystery readers who want the books behind the shows, and we compared four series entries by their PBS connection, series position, stated edition details and publication date.

ShelfAnswers earns a commission when you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure.

The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	The Quiche of Death by Beaton	9.7/10	Buy
2	The Seagull by Cleeves	9.6/10	Buy
3	Hidden Depths by Cleeves	9.6/10	Buy
4	Serpentine Bridge by Penrose	9.5/10	Buy

1

The Quiche of Death by Beaton

M. C. Beaton·9.7/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

The first Agatha Raisin mystery, a cozy village whodunit now a hit on public television.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• Book 1 of 37, the ideal series starting point
• 288 pages stated; media tie-in edition with discussion guide
• Described as a hit show on Acorn TV and public television

Cons

• No original publication year stated, only this 2018 media tie-in edition
• Cozy tone with humor may not suit hard-boiled fans
• Cheating-at-baking premise involves a poisoning

2

The Seagull by Cleeves

Ann Cleeves·9.6/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A Vera Stanhope book 8, a cold-case mystery tied to Vera’s own past, from the hit TV series.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• Vera Stanhope book 8 from the hit TV series
• Cold-case plot reaching back to the mid-nineties
• Published September 5, 2017 by Minotaur

Cons

• Book 8 of 12, so newcomers start late in the series
• No page count stated
• Corruption and death in the description

3

Hidden Depths by Cleeves

Ann Cleeves·9.6/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Vera Stanhope book 3, a stylized murder on the Northumberland coast.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• Vera Stanhope book 3, earlier in the series
• Northumberland coastal setting with a stylized murder
• Published January 23, 2018 by Minotaur

Cons

• Still book 3, not the series start
• No page count stated
• Strangling and staged murder scene in the description

4

Serpentine Bridge by Penrose

Andrea Penrose·9.5/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Wrexford and Sloane book 6, a Regency historical mystery with international intrigue.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• Regency historical mystery with early forensic detail
• Book 6 of 10 in the Wrexford & Sloane series
• Published September 27, 2022 by Kensington

Cons

• Book 6, so new readers miss five earlier books
• No page count stated
• No TV adaptation stated, unlike the other picks

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

More picks to compare

• Silent Voices by CleevesVera Stanhope book 4 with a discussion guide, from the hit TV series.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 20 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the reader, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or level where one is given. None of the four listings states a reading age or grade level, so that part of the score is zero across the board. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best mystery series pbs

Match the show you watch

The two Vera Stanhope books come from a series the listing calls a hit TV show, and Agatha Raisin is described as a hit show on Acorn TV and public television. If you found the series on screen first, start with the book that matches the detective you already like. Our thriller and mystery shelves hold more screen-linked mysteries.

Start at book 1 when you can

The Quiche of Death is book 1 of the 37-book Agatha Raisin series, the cleanest entry point here. The Vera books are books 3 and 8 of 12, and Murder at the Serpentine Bridge is book 6 of 10, so expect returning characters and old history. For more series to follow, see our best mystery series peacock list.

Check the edition

The Quiche of Death is a media tie-in edition from September 4, 2018, with a discussion guide and an essay by the author, which suits book clubs. The other three listings give a publication date but no special edition notes. Confirm the format on the listing before you buy.

Before you buy

• Check the series position: the two Vera books are books 3 and 8 of 12; only The Quiche of Death starts at book 1.
• Check the edition: The Quiche of Death is a media tie-in edition from September 4, 2018.
• Note the content: murder and poisoning appear in the descriptions, so check before buying for a younger reader.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which of these books start their series?

The Quiche of Death is book 1 of the 37-book Agatha Raisin series. The others are mid-series: books 3 and 8 of Vera Stanhope, and book 6 of Wrexford and Sloane.

Are these the books behind the TV shows?

The listings state the Vera and Shetland books are hit TV shows, and Agatha Raisin is a hit show on Acorn TV and public television. No TV show is stated for the Wrexford and Sloane book.

Which edition of The Quiche of Death is this?

The listing states a media tie-in edition from Minotaur Books, published September 4, 2018, with a discussion guide and an essay by the author.

Still deciding? Our top pickThe Quiche of Death by Beaton

Check price on Amazon

Related lists

See every thriller and mystery list and all fiction lists. Also see our best mystery series peacock. Also see our best thriller series prime.

More lists: books for teens dystopian, book club picks, book series fantasy sci fi.